Kia ora koutou e te whanau, 

Last week I was involved in many activities worthy of mention. I will do my best to capture these for you in this, our last ‘Principal Matters’ Bulletin for this term. 

Pasifika Fono 

Early last week I was invited by the Pasifika Principals to attend the Tautai o le Moana Fono. It was such a privilege to attend. 

The Tautai o le Moana PLD is focused on strengthening the capability of principals to improve outcomes for Pasifika Learners. This PLD is offered to all principals nationwide, who want to improve Pasifika culturally responsive practices.  

The Fono showcased outstanding Pasifika presenters who articulated their aspirations for their young people. This gave us a valuable insight. The Tautai o le Moana programme promotes Tautai (students) as navigators – that our Pasifika children navigate many different worlds. The Director of Tautai o le Moana is Helen Varney, a former Principal of Target Road School in Auckland (https://nzppa.com/).She is supported by an outstanding team including, Jason Swann, Karl Vasau, Geoff Siave, Sepora Mauigoa, Sose Annandale, Falefatu Enari and Lito Bernard-Kauhega. 

NZPF Moot 2023 

150 Regional Presidents, Sector partners and leaders, politicians and our Minister, Hon Jan Tinetti, attended this year's NZPF Moot. I thank all those who took time from their communities, schools and tamariki to attend. My opening address was an opportunity to lay the challenges we face, before the Minister, and offer her solutions. You can read my full speech here. 

Bruce Jepson, Te Akatea Māori principals’ president, reminded us of the inequities that continue to plague our education system for Māori ākonga. He also highlighted our responsibility, as leaders, to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and enact those responsibilities in our schools. 

Sa’ane Faaofo Olderhaver, the Pasifika Principals’ President, outlined the Tautai o le Moana programme and Tapasa strategy, giving us all the opportunity to hear the Pasifika voice. 

Our Minister spoke of the government’s priorities. Whilst they come at pace, you could not question her genuine passion for our shared goal – to improve outcomes for ākonga. 

The political panel comprised representatives from the Labour, National and Green parties, slightly tinged by policy announcements made by the National Party 12 hours prior. Unfortunately, there was little detail from most participants. The phrase “ more announcements in the coming days” and “ we would be interested to hear from you” were common responses to questions from the floor. Regardless, we appreciated the opportunity to ask questions of those politicians who fronted.  

The afternoon session was an opportunity to hear from our regional presidents, representing you. We focused on the development of our NZPF manifesto and Hauora Campaign.  

The NZPF Manifesto is our public declaration of what issues matter to us as leaders of learning. We will construct the manifesto and present this first to our Regional Presidents who will consult with you, return it with any amendments, then send it to all political parties.

The last session focused on us. It was an opportunity to gather ideas on how we as principals can support each other. It was heartening to hear that there is a concerted effort to connect principals and offer advice and guidance both professionally and socially. The ideas generated through this exercise, will form a resource bank for our membership. We will share these with you once they have been collated. 

Political announcements 

When political parties drip feed new policy, reactions create lively discussions. This prompts politicians to explain themselves. Please continue to take every opportunity to question any education announcement. Remember we, the practitioners, are the experts. There is no place for education policy that is not based on sound, evidence-based practice and co-constructed with educational researchers and practitioners. 

Acknowledgement of workload. 

Last week I emailed Iona Holstead, Secretary of Education, to outline NZPF’s concern at the number of consultation documents released in the last two weeks. I thank Iona for responding with action. She acknowledged the demands we face and said that the Ministry of Education could do a better job of timing these releases, whilst valuing teacher and principal voice in the design of policy and practice.  

Iona promised us, in an earlier MOE bulletin, that the MOE would be recommencing the engagement calendar which features ‘red’ and ‘green’ zones. The calendar is currently live but does not yet reflect current or upcoming engagements and isn’t easily accessible from the bulletin. The Ministry is updating the calendar in time for the first school bulletin of term 2. It can be viewed here. 

Iona also instructed her leadership team that any proposals for engagement must be lodged through that calendar. She has also asked the chief executives of ERO and NZQA to share their engagements so that the MOE can line those up with MOE considerations. I am grateful to Iona that she has shown responsive leadership, to ensure we have ample notice of any consultation documents. The engagement calendar will support this change. Take the time to add the MOE Calendar to your own.

This is our last Principal Matters newsletter for the term, and I know many of you will be looking forward to a break. I am incredibly proud to work for a profession that serves its community with such passion and commitment, and during the upcoming holiday, I encourage you to spend time with friends and loved ones – they deserve to have you all to themselves. 

Ngā Pou E Whā 

To listen, to learn, to act.

Pou Tahi - Leadership Strategy

Jason Miles, Tracy Fraser, Stephanie Thompson, Leanne Otene 

Rāngai Tumuaki, Amo Hauora - National Hauora Campaign Strategy.

Our annual Moot was held last week, during which we held a session on the NZPF Principals’ National Hauora Strategy.  Regional presidents were asked to contribute their ideas on how principals can better support principals locally. They will soon be compiled into a document to share with your regional associations, but meanwhile, here are some of the ideas that emerged:

• Professional supervision for principals
• Senior Advisors in the MOE to have had principal experience
• Establish a secondment process for principals to become Senior Advisors in the MOE
• Continue the support for principals that we have had through the covid years
• More support for beginning principals
• Support for more women to become principals earlier in their career and more celebration of women principals
• Support and PLD for aspiring principals and middle leaders as of right
• Join PASL so you know you are well supported if your employment relationship is threatened
• Get media training
• Know the phone number of the MOE Trauma Team and post it where you can always see it
• Use the NZPF Helpline (0800798798) for advice, support and referral
• Be collegial. If you are having some difficulty with Board meetings, invite some colleagues to attend the meeting
• Identify a ‘wise team’ of colleagues you can call for advice and support
• Employ a support person at school
• Do welfare check-ins if a colleague is ill
• Take new principals out for lunch
• Engage in Principals’ Haerenga and visit significant sites together to learn about the local history
• Advocate for a ‘wellbeing putea’ for all principals
• Sabbaticals as of right every 5 years

Pou Rua - NZ Curriculum refresh - Te Mātaiaho

Heidi Hayward, Karen Brisco, Jen Rodgers, Blair Dravitski 

Members of the Curriculum Pou met with Rose Carpenter (MOE) and her team, on March 22. We agreed that NZPF can assist the management of information flow, and support principals by advising the MOE on how to prioritise information in manageable chunks. We will collaborate with the MOE on our future fortnightly pou updates. The message for this panui is that your first teacher only day (TOD) explores why we are instigating a Curriculum Refresh/Te Mataiaho.  Everything you need to plan the first day, and possibly subsequent staff meetings,  can be found in the  Facilitation Guide  issued on Monday last week. 

We have been very clear with the MOE team that it is unreasonable to expect principals to lead this work unless we are better prepared. We have asked that the MOE considers a roadshow or similar, so that you can hear directly from them, kanohi ki te kanohi, with ample question time!

NZPF has also discussed the remaining TODs through the TOD Sector Advisory Panel. We have asked for clarity on the timeline and 2023 priorities, so that we can make an effective contribution to planning the remaining TODs. 

Math Curriculum Insights 

Following the success of the NZPF/MoE math roadshow last year, Rob has sent us a follow up video and powerpoint to share with you. The video gives great ideas and examples of how to deliver the new math currciculum whist using reasources we all have in our schools.  

The powerpoint can be found here. 

The video is below -

https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/play/VStFzEPIYdAAlXjR3QccCSfXwiIsQVNrS15relKZRJTlhg5F1LwH8zCpHLXAd-mz6ufAbHa4Em2RQhEd.3wIdSj00XeI9-OFV

Pou Toru- Students / Ākonga / Inclusive Education

Shane Buckner, John Bangma, Phil Palfrey, Gavin Beere

A significant component of Learning Support programmes includes the RTLB (Resource Teachers of Learning and Behaviour). RTLB numbers are generated from our 1 July Roll Returns. 

Some members of the NZPF national executive are also Lead School Principals (LSPs) who host a cluster of RTLB, although not always on the school site. One of them also serves as chair of the RTLB Lead School Executive, who meet with the MOE in Wellington once a term.

At its last meeting, the RTLB LSP executive discussed the annual RTLB satisfaction survey. This survey was offered to all schools to complete. The results form a national as well as a local picture. Just under half of all schools responded to the survey.  Satisfaction results remain high with 78% of respondents satisfied or very satisfied with their RTLB service. This is a result that has been repeated over the years.

During the meeting there was discussion on the NZEI/PPTA/MOE proposal to include RTLB Learning Support Funding in the Teacher Aide funding proposal. The RTLB LSP Exec did not support this move. You can share your opinions on this proposal by completing the survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5C8PSV2 

Pou Wha- Policy, Constitution and Legal

Hayley Read, Julie Hepburn, Cherie Taylor-Patel 

Physical Restraints Legislation Changes 
As principals will be aware, changes have been made to the Physical Restraints rules.  Under the new rules, all registered schools must have a policy on reducing student distress and the use of physical restraint by 7 May.  The rules and guidelines were made available online on 7 February and distributed in hard copy from 6 March.  Minimising the use of physical restraint in New Zealand schools and kura – Ministry of Education.  NZSTA and SchoolDocs can be contacted for assistance to update your school policies and procedures.  

 Planning and Reporting
Consultation has begun on the new Planning and Reporting guidelines.  A key point of difference in the proposed changes is the expectation that school communities and mana whenua voice will inform annual plans, to capture the dreams and aspirations of whānau, hapu and Iwi.  While the new strategic planning model must be prepared by 1 Jan 2024 and submitted to the Secretary of Education by 1 March 2024, how this is developed needs to be part of principals’ mahi in 2023.